ARCTIIDAE. By Dr. A. Seitz. 43 



4. Family: Arctiidae, Tigermoths. 



With this family we commence that division of the Heterocera which were formerly classified as 

 true Bombyces. The Tigermoths form a link between the so-called Micro- and jMacrolepidoptera, in as 

 much as their first and certainly eldest groups, the Lithosiinae and Nolinae, show an unmistakable affinity 

 to the Micro-Lopidoptera, while those genera which consist of the larger and often beautifully coloured 

 Arctiinae seem to be allied to the Noctuids and especially the Acronyctas. 



One can hardly give a general diagnosis for the entire family, which consists of over 400 genera 

 and more than IJOOO species. The \enation, which is usually so constant, often varies so much in the 

 Arctiids that even in one specimen one side is different from the other. The group takes its German 

 name ,,Barenspinner" from the dense and sometimes pelty hair of the larvae, which pupate in a cocoon. 

 The larvae of the elder groups, those which are more closely allied to the Micro-Lepidoptera, live on 

 lichens, those of the other groups are generally polyphagous, and are extraordinarily greedy, often growing 

 very rapidh'. On the other hand, we also find species among the Arctiids whoso larvae hibernate more 

 than once on account of their slow growth. 



The hairs of Arctiids are generally not very poisonous. They sting a little mechanically, and in some 

 tropical species are modified into needle-like bristles. But as regards the inflammation they cause, they 

 do not nearly come up to those of other Bombyces, like Lasiocampids, certain Saturnids (Htjferchiria) 

 and Limacodids. Many of these larvae are able to travel long distances, and all the larvae of Arctiids 

 may be described as agile on the whole, a characteristic which is also apparent in the moth, whereas 

 the pupa is often absolutely incapable of motion, and cannot even make the usual movements of the 

 abdomen. 



The moths themselves are on the whole of a regular shape, which is characteristic of each sub- 

 group. Except in Argiva we nowhere find tail-like prolongations of the wings; but there are often thin 

 tufts of hair or discs with raised scales on the wings; and occasionally there are knot-like swellings at 

 certain points on the wings; etc. 



Nowhere do we meet with mimetic resemblance. Only the very smallest species are sometimes 

 adapted to their surroundings; the larger forms are quite conspicuous in shape and colouring, and fly 

 fearlessly in day-time, though they may normally be night-fliers. They are protected by the very sharp 

 and aromatic oil which exudes from two openings in the thorax behind the collar w-hen irritated, and 

 which in its effect on the tongue resembles that of the Zygaenas and Syntomids, and sometimes gives 

 the living moth a characteristic odour of fennel or musk, etc. 



Hampson, who has monographed the greater part of the Arctiidae. has attempted to give a 

 characterisation of the entire group from the venation, but the classification based on the neuration com- 

 pelled him to remove from the Arctiids certain groups which undoubtedly belong to them, viz. Nyctemera, 

 Cullimoriilia, Perkopis, etc. On the whole we may nevertheless accept it as a character common to all the 

 Arctiids s. str. that the costal and subcostal of the hindwing are coincident for some distance, while 

 these veins in other moths often only touch, e. g. in the Noctuids, and remain separate nearly throughout, 

 and in the other Bombyces are generally altogether separate or only united by a transverse veinlet. We 

 abstain, however, from a generally applicable definition which is based on a single organ, and only 

 characterise the Arctiids as usiialh' brightly coloured agile moths, many of which have the habits of 

 butterflies, the tongue being usually well developed and the legs strong and very mobile. The antennae 

 of the $$ are usuallj' setiform, those of the (^^ also sometimes hardly or only slightly pectinate, more 

 rarely with long, feathery pectinations. Larvae stout, sometimes densely covered with hair; pupae stumpy, 

 generalh- smooth, often appearing polished. Their distribution extends over all the continents and larger 

 islands as far as the Arctic zone. 



We here divide the known Palearctic Arctiids into the following groups, which do not represent 

 scientifically established subfamilies, but are only artificial divisions proposed for the sake of lucidity: 



1. Nolinae. 5. Spilosominae. 



■1. Lithosiinae. G. Arctiinae s. s. 



8. Hypsinae. 7. Callimorphinae. 



4. Micrarctiinae. 8. Nyctemerinae. 



A few^ other groups w^hich should be placed with these, such as Phaegopterinae, Pencopinae, etc., 

 have no representatives in the Palearctic fauna. 



